Methods and systems for routing in a state machine

ABSTRACT

A device includes a routing buffer. The routing buffer includes a first port configured to receive a signal relating to an analysis of at least a portion of a data stream. The routing buffer also includes a second port configured to selectively provide the signal to a first routing line of a block of a state machine at a first time. The routing buffer further includes a third port configured to selectively provide the signal to a second routing line of the block of the state machine at the first time.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/327,623, entitled “Boolean Logic in a State Machine Lattice,” and filed Dec. 15, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,680,888 which issued on Mar. 25, 2014, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electronic devices and, more specifically, in certain embodiments, to electronic devices with parallel finite state machines for pattern-recognition.

2. Description of Related Art

Complex pattern recognition can be inefficient to perform on a conventional von Neumann based computer. A biological brain, in particular a human brain, however, is adept at performing pattern recognition. Current research suggests that a human brain performs pattern recognition using a series of hierarchically organized neuron layers in the neocortex. Neurons in the lower layers of the hierarchy analyze “raw signals” from, for example, sensory organs, while neurons in higher layers analyze signal outputs from neurons in the lower levels. This hierarchical system in the neocortex, possibly in combination with other areas of the brain, accomplishes the complex pattern recognition that enables humans to perform high level functions such as spatial reasoning, conscious thought, and complex language.

In the field of computing, pattern recognition tasks are increasingly challenging. Ever larger volumes of data are transmitted between computers, and the number of patterns that users wish to identify is increasing. For example, spam or malware are often detected by searching for patterns in a data stream, e.g., particular phrases or pieces of code. The number of patterns increases with the variety of spam and malware, as new patterns may be implemented to search for new variants. Searching a data stream for each of these patterns can form a computing bottleneck. Often, as the data stream is received, it is searched for each pattern, one at a time. The delay before the system is ready to search the next portion of the data stream increases with the number of patterns. Thus, pattern recognition may slow the receipt of data.

Hardware has been designed to search a data stream for patterns, but this hardware often is unable to process adequate amounts of data in an amount of time given. Some devices configured to search a data stream do so by distributing the data stream among a plurality of circuits. The circuits each determine whether the data stream matches a portion of a pattern. Often, a large number of circuits operate in parallel, each searching the data stream at generally the same time. However, there has not been a system that effectively allows for performing pattern recognition in a manner more comparable to that of a biological brain. Development of such a system is desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of system having a state machine engine, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an FSM lattice of the state machine engine of FIG. 1, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a block of the FSM lattice of FIG. 2, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a row of the block of FIG. 3, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a Group of Two of the row of FIG. 4, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a finite state machine graph, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of two-level hierarchy implemented with FSM lattices, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a method for a compiler to convert source code into a binary file for programming of the FSM lattice of FIG. 2, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a state machine engine, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an illustrates a second example of a row of the block of FIG. 3, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates the intra-block switch of FIG. 10, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a first buffer of FIG. 3, according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a second buffer of FIG. 3, according to various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a processor-based system, generally designated by reference numeral 10. The system 10 may be any of a variety of types such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, pager, cellular phone, personal organizer, portable audio player, control circuit, camera, etc. The system 10 may also be a network node, such as a router, a server, or a client (e.g., one of the previously-described types of computers). The system 10 may be some other sort of electronic device, such as a copier, a scanner, a printer, a game console, a television, a set-top video distribution or recording system, a cable box, a personal digital media player, a factory automation system, an automotive computer system, or a medical device. (The terms used to describe these various examples of systems, like many of the other terms used herein, may share some referents and, as such, should not be construed narrowly in virtue of the other items listed.)

In a typical processor-based device, such as the system 10, a processor 12, such as a microprocessor, controls the processing of system functions and requests in the system 10. Further, the processor 12 may comprise a plurality of processors that share system control. The processor 12 may be coupled directly or indirectly to each of the elements in the system 10, such that the processor 12 controls the system 10 by executing instructions that may be stored within the system 10 or external to the system 10.

In accordance with the embodiments described herein, the system 10 includes a state machine engine 14, which may operate under control of the processor 12. The state machine engine 14 may employ any one of a number of state machine architectures, including, but not limited to Mealy architectures, Moore architectures, Finite State Machines (FSMs), Deterministic FSMs (DFSMs), Bit-Parallel State Machines (BPSMs), etc. Though a variety of architectures may be used, for discussion purposes, the application refers to FSMs. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the described techniques may be employed using any one of a variety of state machine architectures.

As discussed further below, the state machine engine 14 may include a number of (e.g., one or more) finite state machine (FSM) lattices. Each FSM lattice may include multiple FSMs that each receive and analyze the same data in parallel. Further, the FSM lattices may be arranged in groups (e.g., clusters), such that clusters of FSM lattices may analyze the same input data in parallel. Further, clusters of FSM lattices of the state machine engine 14 may be arranged in a hierarchical structure wherein outputs from state machine lattices on a lower level of the hierarchical structure may be used as inputs to state machine lattices on a higher level. By cascading clusters of parallel FSM lattices of the state machine engine 14 in series through the hierarchical structure, increasingly complex patterns may be analyzed (e.g., evaluated, searched, etc.).

Further, based on the hierarchical parallel configuration of the state machine engine 14, the state machine engine 14 can be employed for pattern recognition in systems that utilize high processing speeds. For instance, embodiments described herein may be incorporated in systems with processing speeds of 1 GByte/sec. Accordingly, utilizing the state machine engine 14, data from high speed memory devices or other external devices may be rapidly analyzed for various patterns. The state machine engine 14 may analyze a data stream according to several criteria, and their respective search terms, at about the same time, e.g., during a single device cycle. Each of the FSM lattices within a cluster of FSMs on a level of the state machine engine 14 may each receive the same search term from the data stream at about the same time, and each of the parallel FSM lattices may determine whether the term advances the state machine engine 14 to the next state in the processing criterion. The state machine engine 14 may analyze terms according to a relatively large number of criteria, e.g., more than 100, more than 110, or more than 10,000. Because they operate in parallel, they may apply the criteria to a data stream having a relatively high bandwidth, e.g., a data stream of greater than or generally equal to 1 GByte/sec, without slowing the data stream.

In one embodiment, the state machine engine 14 may be configured to recognize (e.g., detect) a great number of patterns in a data stream. For instance, the state machine engine 14 may be utilized to detect a pattern in one or more of a variety of types of data streams that a user or other entity might wish to analyze. For example, the state machine engine 14 may be configured to analyze a stream of data received over a network, such as packets received over the Internet or voice or data received over a cellular network. In one example, the state machine engine 14 may be configured to analyze a data stream for spam or malware. The data stream may be received as a serial data stream, in which the data is received in an order that has meaning, such as in a temporally, lexically, or semantically significant order. Alternatively, the data stream may be received in parallel or out of order and, then, converted into a serial data stream, e.g., by reordering packets received over the Internet. In some embodiments, the data stream may present terms serially, but the bits expressing each of the terms may be received in parallel. The data stream may be received from a source external to the system 10, or may be formed by interrogating a memory device, such as the memory 16, and forming the data stream from data stored in the memory 16. In other examples, the state machine engine 14 may be configured to recognize a sequence of characters that spell a certain word, a sequence of genetic base pairs that specify a gene, a sequence of bits in a picture or video file that form a portion of an image, a sequence of bits in an executable file that form a part of a program, or a sequence of bits in an audio file that form a part of a song or a spoken phrase. The stream of data to be analyzed may include multiple bits of data in a binary format or other formats, e.g., base ten, ASCII, etc. The stream may encode the data with a single digit or multiple digits, e.g., several binary digits.

As will be appreciated, the system 10 may include memory 16. The memory 16 may include volatile memory, such as Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), Double Data Rate DRAM (DDR SDRAM), DDR2 SDRAM, DDR3 SDRAM, etc. The memory 16 may also include non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), PC-RAM, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, metal-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (MONOS) memory, polysilicon floating gate based memory, and/or other types of flash memory of various architectures (e.g., NAND memory, NOR memory, etc.) to be used in conjunction with the volatile memory. The memory 16 may include one or more memory devices, such as DRAM devices, that may provide data to be analyzed by the state machine engine 14. Such devices may be referred to as or include solid state drives (SSD's), MultimediaMediaCards (MMC's), SecureDigital (SD) cards, CompactFlash (CF) cards, or any other suitable device. Further, it should be appreciated that such devices may couple to the system 10 via any suitable interface, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), PCI Express (PCI-E), Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), IEEE 1394 (Firewire), or any other suitable interface. To facilitate operation of the memory 16, such as the flash memory devices, the system 10 may include a memory controller (not illustrated). As will be appreciated, the memory controller may be an independent device or it may be integral with the processor 12. Additionally, the system 10 may include an external storage 18, such as a magnetic storage device. The external storage may also provide input data to the state machine engine 14.

The system 10 may include a number of additional elements. For instance, a complier 20 may be used to program the state machine engine 14, as described in more detail with regard to FIG. 8. An input device 22 may also be coupled to the processor 12 to allow a user to input data into the system 10. For instance, an input device 22 may be used to input data into the memory 16 for later analysis by the state machine engine 14. The input device 22 may include buttons, switching elements, a keyboard, a light pen, a stylus, a mouse, and/or a voice recognition system, for instance. An output device 24, such as a display may also be coupled to the processor 12. The display 24 may include an LCD, a CRT, LEDs, and/or an audio display, for example. They system may also include a network interface device 26, such as a Network Interface Card (NIC), for interfacing with a network, such as the Internet. As will be appreciated, the system 10 may include many other components, depending on the application of the system 10.

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate an example of a FSM lattice 30. In an example, the FSM lattice 30 comprises an array of blocks 32. As will be described, each block 32 may include a plurality of selectively couple-able hardware elements (e.g., programmable elements and/or special purpose elements) that correspond to a plurality of states in a FSM. Similar to a state in a FSM, a hardware element can analyze an input stream and activate a downstream hardware element, based on the input stream.

The programmable elements can be programmed to implement many different functions. For instance, the programmable elements may include state machine elements (SMEs) 34, 36 (shown in FIG. 5) that are hierarchically organized into rows 38 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) and blocks 32 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). To route signals between the hierarchically organized SMEs 34, 36, a hierarchy of programmable switching elements can be used, including inter-block switching elements 40 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), intra-block switching elements 42 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) and intra-row switching elements 44 (shown in FIG. 4).

As described below, the switching elements may include routing structures and buffers. A SME 34, 36 can correspond to a state of a FSM implemented by the FSM lattice 30. The SMEs 34, 36 can be coupled together by using the programmable switching elements as described below. Accordingly, a FSM can be implemented on the FSM lattice 30 by programming the SMEs 34, 36 to correspond to the functions of states and by selectively coupling together the SMEs 34, 36 to correspond to the transitions between states in the FSM.

FIG. 2 illustrates an overall view of an example of a FSM lattice 30. The FSM lattice 30 includes a plurality of blocks 32 that can be selectively coupled together with programmable inter-block switching elements 40. The inter-block switching elements 40 may include conductors 46 (e.g., wires, traces, etc.) and buffers 48 and 50. In an example, buffers 48 and 50 are included to control the connection and timing of signals to/from the inter-block switching elements 40. As described further below, the buffers 48 may be provided to buffer data being sent between blocks 32, while the buffers 50 may be provided to buffer data being sent between inter-block switching elements 40. Additionally, the blocks 32 can be selectively coupled to an input block 52 (e.g., a data input port) for receiving signals (e.g., data) and providing the data to the blocks 32. The blocks 32 can also be selectively coupled to an output block 54 (e.g., an output port) for providing signals from the blocks 32 to an external device (e.g., another FSM lattice 30). The FSM lattice 30 can also include a programming interface 56 to load a program (e.g., an image) onto the FSM lattice 30. The image can program (e.g., set) the state of the SMEs 34, 36. That is, the image can configure the SMEs 34, 36 to react in a certain way to a given input at the input block 52. For example, a SME 34, 36 can be set to output a high signal when the character ‘a’ is received at the input block 52.

In an example, the input block 52, the output block 54, and/or the programming interface 56 can be implemented as registers such that writing to or reading from the registers provides data to or from the respective elements. Accordingly, bits from the image stored in the registers corresponding to the programming interface 56 can be loaded on the SMEs 34, 36. Although FIG. 2 illustrates a certain number of conductors (e.g., wire, trace) between a block 32, input block 52, output block 54, and an inter-block switching element 40, it should be understood that in other examples, fewer or more conductors may be used.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a block 32. A block 32 can include a plurality of rows 38 that can be selectively coupled together with programmable intra-block switching elements 42. Additionally, a row 38 can be selectively coupled to another row 38 within another block 32 with the inter-block switching elements 40. A row 38 includes a plurality of SMEs 34, 36 organized into pairs of elements that are referred to herein as groups of two (GOTs) 60. In an example, a block 32 comprises sixteen (16) rows 38.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a row 38. A GOT 60 can be selectively coupled to other GOTs 60 and any other elements (e.g., a special purpose element 58) within the row 38 by programmable intra-row switching elements 44. A GOT 60 can also be coupled to other GOTs 60 in other rows 38 with the intra-block switching element 42, or other GOTs 60 in other blocks 32 with an inter-block switching element 40. In an example, a GOT 60 has a first and second input 62, 64, and an output 66. The first input 62 is coupled to a first SME 34 of the GOT 60 and the second input 62 is coupled to a second SME 34 of the GOT 60, as will be further illustrated with reference to FIG. 5.

In an example, the row 38 includes a first and second plurality of row interconnection conductors 68, 70. In an example, an input 62, 64 of a GOT 60 can be coupled to one or more row interconnection conductors 68, 70, and an output 66 can be coupled to one row interconnection conductor 68, 70. In an example, a first plurality of the row interconnection conductors 68 can be coupled to each SME 34, 36 of each GOT 60 within the row 38. A second plurality of the row interconnection conductors 70 can be coupled to only one SME 34, 36 of each GOT 60 within the row 38, but cannot be coupled to the other SME 34,36 of the GOT 60. In an example, a first half of the second plurality of row interconnection conductors 70 can couple to first half of the SMEs 34, 36 within a row 38 (one SME 34 from each GOT 60) and a second half of the second plurality of row interconnection conductors 70 can couple to a second half of the SMEs 34,36 within a row 38 (the other SME 34,36 from each GOT 60), as will be better illustrated with respect to FIG. 5. The limited connectivity between the second plurality of row interconnection conductors 70 and the SMEs 34, 36 is referred to herein as “parity”. In an example, the row 38 can also include a special purpose element 58 such as a counter, a programmable Boolean logic element, look-up table, RAM, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable processor (e.g., a microprocessor), or other element for performing a special purpose function.

In an example, the special purpose element 58 comprises a counter (also referred to herein as counter 58). In an example, the counter 58 comprises a 12-bit programmable down counter. The 12-bit programmable counter 58 has a counting input, a reset input, and zero-count output. The counting input, when asserted, decrements the value of the counter 58 by one. The reset input, when asserted, causes the counter 58 to load an initial value from an associated register. For the 12-bit counter 58, up to a 12-bit number can be loaded in as the initial value. When the value of the counter 58 is decremented to zero (0), the zero-count output is asserted. The counter 58 also has at least two modes, pulse and hold. When the counter 58 is set to pulse mode, the zero-count output is asserted during the clock cycle when the counter 58 decrements to zero, and at the next clock cycle the zero-count output is no longer asserted. When the counter 58 is set to hold mode the zero-count output is asserted during the clock cycle when the counter 58 decrements to zero, and stays asserted until the counter 58 is reset by the reset input being asserted.

In another example, the special purpose element 58 comprises Boolean logic. In some examples, this Boolean logic can be used to extract information from terminal state SMEs (corresponding to terminal nodes of a FSM, as discussed later herein) in FSM lattice 30. The information extracted can be used to transfer state information to other FSM lattices 30 and/or to transfer programming information used to reprogram FSM lattice 30, or to reprogram another FSM lattice 30.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a GOT 60. The GOT 60 includes a first SME 34 and a second SME 36 having inputs 62, 64 and having their outputs 72, 74 coupled to an OR gate 76 and a 3-to-1 multiplexer 78. The 3-to-1 multiplexer 78 can be set to couple the output 66 of the GOT 60 to either the first SME 34, the second SME 36, or the OR gate 76. The OR gate 76 can be used to couple together both outputs 72, 74 to form the common output 66 of the GOT 60. In an example, the first and second SME 34, 36 exhibit parity, as discussed above, where the input 62 of the first SME 34 can be coupled to some of the row interconnect conductors 68 and the input 64 of the second SME 36 can be coupled to other row interconnect conductors 70. In an example, the two SMEs 34, 36 within a GOT 60 can be cascaded and/or looped back to themselves by setting either or both of switching elements 79. The SMEs 34, 36 can be cascaded by coupling the output 72, 74 of the SMEs 34, 36 to the input 62, 64 of the other SME 34, 36. The SMEs 34, 36 can be looped back to themselves by coupling the output 72, 74 to their own input 62, 64. Accordingly, the output 72 of the first SME 34 can be coupled to neither, one, or both of the input 62 of the first SME 34 and the input 64 of the second SME 36.

In an example, a state machine element 34, 36 comprises a plurality of memory cells 80, such as those often used in dynamic random access memory (DRAM), coupled in parallel to a detect line 82. One such memory cell 80 comprises a memory cell that can be set to a data state, such as one that corresponds to either a high or a low value (e.g., a 1 or 0). The output of the memory cell 80 is coupled to the detect line 82 and the input to the memory cell 80 receives signals based on data on the data stream line 84. In an example, an input on the data stream line 84 is decoded to select one of the memory cells 80. The selected memory cell 80 provides its stored data state as an output onto the detect line 82. For example, the data received at the input block 52 can be provided to a decoder (not shown) and the decoder can select one of the data stream lines 84. In an example, the decoder can convert an 8-bit ACSII character to the corresponding 1 of 256 data stream lines 84.

A memory cell 80, therefore, outputs a high signal to the detect line 82 when the memory cell 80 is set to a high value and the data on the data stream line 84 corresponds to the memory cell 80. When the data on the data stream line 84 corresponds to the memory cell 80 and the memory cell 80 is set to a low value, the memory cell 80 outputs a low signal to the detect line 82. The outputs from the memory cells 80 on the detect line 82 are sensed by a detection cell 86.

In an example, the signal on an input line 62, 64 sets the respective detection cell 86 to either an active or inactive state. When set to the inactive state, the detection cell 86 outputs a low signal on the respective output 72, 74 regardless of the signal on the respective detect line 82. When set to an active state, the detection cell 86 outputs a high signal on the respective output line 72, 74 when a high signal is detected from one of the memory cells 82 of the respective SME 34, 36. When in the active state, the detection cell 86 outputs a low signal on the respective output line 72, 74 when the signals from all of the memory cells 82 of the respective SME 34, 36 are low.

In an example, an SME 34, 36 includes 256 memory cells 80 and each memory cell 80 is coupled to a different data stream line 84. Thus, an SME 34, 36 can be programmed to output a high signal when a selected one or more of the data stream lines 84 have a high signal thereon. For example, the SME 34 can have a first memory cell 80 (e.g., bit 0) set high and all other memory cells 80 (e.g., bits 1-255) set low. When the respective detection cell 86 is in the active state, the SME 34 outputs a high signal on the output 72 when the data stream line 84 corresponding to bit 0 has a high signal thereon. In other examples, the SME 34 can be set to output a high signal when one of multiple data stream lines 84 have a high signal thereon by setting the appropriate memory cells 80 to a high value.

In an example, a memory cell 80 can be set to a high or low value by reading bits from an associated register. Accordingly, the SMEs 34 can be programmed by storing an image created by the compiler 20 into the registers and loading the bits in the registers into associated memory cells 80. In an example, the image created by the compiler 20 includes a binary image of high and low (e.g., 1 and 0) bits. The image can program the FSM lattice 30 to operate as a FSM by cascading the SMEs 34, 36. For example, a first SME 34 can be set to an active state by setting the detection cell 86 to the active state. The first SME 34 can be set to output a high signal when the data stream line 84 corresponding to bit 0 has a high signal thereon. The second SME 36 can be initially set to an inactive state, but can be set to, when active, output a high signal when the data stream line 84 corresponding to bit 1 has a high signal thereon. The first SME 34 and the second SME 36 can be cascaded by setting the output 72 of the first SME 34 to couple to the input 64 of the second SME 36. Thus, when a high signal is sensed on the data stream line 84 corresponding to bit 0, the first SME 34 outputs a high signal on the output 72 and sets the detection cell 86 of the second SME 36 to an active state. When a high signal is sensed on the data stream line 84 corresponding to bit 1, the second SME 36 outputs a high signal on the output 74 to activate another SME 36 or for output from the FSM lattice 30.

In an example, a single FSM lattice 30 is implemented on a single physical device, however, in other examples two or more FSM lattices 30 can be implemented on a single physical device (e.g., physical chip). In an example, each FSM lattice 30 can include a distinct data input block 52, a distinct output block 54, a distinct programming interface 56, and a distinct set of programmable elements. Moreover, each set of programmable elements can react (e.g., output a high or low signal) to data at their corresponding data input block 52. For example, a first set of programmable elements corresponding to a first FSM lattice 30 can react to the data at a first data input block 52 corresponding to the first FSM lattice 30. A second set of programmable elements corresponding to a second FSM lattice 30 can react to a second data input block 52 corresponding to the second FSM lattice 30. Accordingly, each FSM lattice 30 includes a set of programmable elements, wherein different sets of programmable elements can react to different input data. Similarly, each FSM lattice 30, and each corresponding set of programmable elements can provide a distinct output. In some examples, an output block 54 from a first FSM lattice 30 can be coupled to an input block 52 of a second FSM lattice 30, such that input data for the second FSM lattice 30 can include the output data from the first FSM lattice 30 in a hierarchical arrangement of a series of FSM lattices 30.

In an example, an image for loading onto the FSM lattice 30 comprises a plurality of bits of information for configuring the programmable elements, the programmable switching elements, and the special purpose elements within the FSM lattice 30. In an example, the image can be loaded onto the FSM lattice 30 to program the FSM lattice 30 to provide a desired output based on certain inputs. The output block 54 can provide outputs from the FSM lattice 30 based on the reaction of the programmable elements to data at the data input block 52. An output from the output block 54 can include a single bit indicating a match of a given pattern, a word comprising a plurality of bits indicating matches and non-matches to a plurality of patterns, and a state vector corresponding to the state of all or certain programmable elements at a given moment. As described, a number of FSM lattices 30 may be included in a state machine engine, such as state machine engine 14, to perform data analysis, such as pattern-recognition (e.g., speech recognition, image recognition, etc.) signal processing, imaging, computer vision, cryptography, and others.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example model of a finite state machine (FSM) that can be implemented by the FSM lattice 30. The FSM lattice 30 can be configured (e.g., programmed) as a physical implementation of a FSM. A FSM can be represented as a diagram 90, (e..g, directed graph, undirected graph, pseudograph), which contains one or more root nodes 92. In addition to the root nodes 92, the FSM can be made up of several standard nodes 94 and terminal nodes 96 that are connected to the root nodes 92 and other standard nodes 94 through one or more edges 98. A node 92, 94, 96 corresponds to a state in the FSM. The edges 98 correspond to the transitions between the states.

Each of the nodes 92, 94, 96 can be in either an active or an inactive state. When in the inactive state, a node 92, 94, 96 does not react (e.g., respond) to input data. When in an active state, a node 92, 94, 96 can react to input data. An upstream node 92, 94 can react to the input data by activating a node 94, 96 that is downstream from the node when the input data matches criteria specified by an edge 98 between the upstream node 92, 94 and the downstream node 94, 96. For example, a first node 94 that specifies the character ‘b’ will activate a second node 94 connected to the first node 94 by an edge 98 when the first node 94 is active and the character ‘b’ is received as input data. As used herein, “upstream” refers to a relationship between one or more nodes, where a first node that is upstream of one or more other nodes (or upstream of itself in the case of a loop or feedback configuration) refers to the situation in which the first node can activate the one or more other nodes (or can activate itself in the case of a loop). Similarly, “downstream” refers to a relationship where a first node that is downstream of one or more other nodes (or downstream of itself in the case of a loop) can be activated by the one or more other nodes (or can be activated by itself in the case of a loop). Accordingly, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are used herein to refer to relationships between one or more nodes, but these terms do not preclude the use of loops or other non-linear paths among the nodes.

In the diagram 90, the root node 92 can be initially activated and can activate downstream nodes 94 when the input data matches an edge 98 from the root node 92. Nodes 94 can activate nodes 96 when the input data matches an edge 98 from the node 94. Nodes 94, 96 throughout the diagram 90 can be activated in this manner as the input data is received. A terminal node 96 corresponds to a match of a sequence of interest by the input data. Accordingly, activation of a terminal node 96 indicates that a sequence of interest has been received as the input data. In the context of the FSM lattice 30 implementing a pattern recognition function, arriving at a terminal node 96 can indicate that a specific pattern of interest has been detected in the input data.

In an example, each root node 92, standard node 94, and terminal node 96 can correspond to a programmable element in the FSM lattice 30. Each edge 98 can correspond to connections between the programmable elements. Thus, a standard node 94 that transitions to (e.g., has an edge 98 connecting to) another standard node 94 or a terminal node 96 corresponds to a programmable element that transitions to (e.g., provides an output to) another programmable element. In some examples, the root node 92 does not have a corresponding programmable element.

When the FSM lattice 30 is programmed, each of the programmable elements can also be in either an active or inactive state. A given programmable element, when inactive, does not react to the input data at a corresponding data input block 52. An active programmable element can react to the input data at the data input block 52, and can activate a downstream programmable element when the input data matches the setting of the programmable element. When a programmable element corresponds to a terminal node 96, the programmable element can be coupled to the output block 54 to provide an indication of a match to an external device.

An image loaded onto the FSM lattice 30 via the programming interface 56 can configure the programmable elements and special purpose elements, as well as the connections between the programmable elements and special purpose elements, such that a desired FSM is implemented through the sequential activation of nodes based on reactions to the data at the data input block 52. In an example, a programmable element remains active for a single data cycle (e.g., a single character, a set of characters, a single clock cycle) and then becomes inactive unless re-activated by an upstream programmable element.

A terminal node 96 can be considered to store a compressed history of past events. For example, the one or more patterns of input data required to reach a terminal node 96 can be represented by the activation of that terminal node 96. In an example, the output provided by a terminal node 96 is binary, that is, the output indicates whether the pattern of interest has been matched or not. The ratio of terminal nodes 96 to standard nodes 94 in a diagram 90 may be quite small. In other words, although there may be a high complexity in the FSM, the output of the FSM may be small by comparison.

In an example, the output of the FSM lattice 30 can comprise a state vector. The state vector comprises the state (e.g., activated or not activated) of programmable elements of the FSM lattice 30. In an example, the state vector includes the states for the programmable elements corresponding to terminal nodes 96. Thus, the output can include a collection of the indications provided by all terminal nodes 96 of a diagram 90. The state vector can be represented as a word, where the binary indication provided by each terminal node 96 comprises one bit of the word. This encoding of the terminal nodes 96 can provide an effective indication of the detection state (e.g., whether and what sequences of interest have been detected) for the FSM lattice 30. In another example, the state vector can include the state of all or a subset of the programmable elements whether or not the programmable elements corresponds to a terminal node 96.

As mentioned above, the FSM lattice 30 can be programmed to implement a pattern recognition function. For example, the FSM lattice 30 can be configured to recognize one or more data sequences (e.g., signatures, patterns) in the input data. When a data sequence of interest is recognized by the FSM lattice 30, an indication of that recognition can be provided at the output block 54. In an example, the pattern recognition can recognize a string of symbols (e.g., ASCII characters) to; for example, identify malware or other information in network data.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of hierarchical structure 100, wherein two levels of FSM lattices 30 are coupled in series and used to analyze data. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the hierarchical structure 100 includes a first FSM lattice 30A and a second FSM lattice 30B arranged in series. Each FSM lattice 30 includes a respective data input block 52 to receive data input, a programming interface block 56 to receive programming signals and an output block 54.

The first FSM lattice 30A is configured to receive input data, for example, raw data at a data input block. The first FSM lattice 30A reacts to the input data as described above and provides an output at an output block. The output from the first FSM lattice 30A is sent to a data input block of the second FSM lattice 30B. The second FSM lattice 30B can then react based on the output provided by the first FSM lattice 30A and provide a corresponding output signal 102 of the hierarchical structure 100. This hierarchical coupling of two FSM lattices 30A and 30B in series provides a means to transfer information regarding past events in a compressed word from a first FSM lattice 30A to a second FSM lattice 30B. The information transferred can effectively be a summary of complex events (e.g., sequences of interest) that were recorded by the first FSM lattice 30A.

The two-level hierarchy 100 of FSM lattices 30A, 30B shown in FIG. 7 allows two independent programs to operate based on the same data stream. The two-stage hierarchy can be similar to visual recognition in a biological brain which is modeled as different regions. Under this model, the regions are effectively different pattern recognition engines, each performing a similar computational function (pattern matching) but using different programs (signatures). By connecting multiple FSM lattices 30A, 30B together, increased knowledge about the data stream input may be obtained.

The first level of the hierarchy (implemented by the first FSM lattice 30A) can, for example, perform processing directly on a raw data stream. That is, a raw data stream can be received at an input block 52 of the first FSM lattice 30A and the programmable elements of the first FSM lattice 30A can react to the raw data stream. The second level (implemented by the second FSM lattice 30B) of the hierarchy can process the output from the first level. That is, the second FSM lattice 30B receives the output from an output block 54 of the first FSM lattice 30A at an input block 52 of the second FSM lattice 30B and the programmable elements of the second FSM lattice 30B can react to the output of the first FSM lattice 30A. Accordingly, in this example, the second FSM lattice 30B does not receive the raw data stream as an input, but rather receives the indications of patterns of interest that are matched by the raw data stream as determined by the first FSM lattice 30A. The second FSM lattice 30B can implement a FSM that recognizes patterns in the output data stream from the first FSM lattice 30A.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of a method 110 for a compiler to convert source code into an image configured to program a FSM lattice, such as lattice 30, to implement a FSM. Method 110 includes parsing the source code into a syntax tree (block 112), converting the syntax tree into an automaton (block 114), optimizing the automaton (block 116), converting the automaton into a netlist (block 118), placing the netlist on hardware (block 120), routing the netlist (block 122), and publishing the resulting image (block 124).

In an example, the compiler 20 includes an application programming interface (API) that allows software developers to create images for implementing FSMs on the FSM lattice 30. The compiler 20 provides methods to convert an input set of regular expressions in the source code into an image that is configured to program the FSM lattice 30. The compiler 20 can be implemented by instructions for a computer having a von Neumann architecture. These instructions can cause a processor 12 on the computer to implement the functions of the compiler 20. For example, the instructions, when executed by the processor 12, can cause the processor 12 to perform actions as described in blocks 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, and 124 on source code that is accessible to the processor 12.

In an example, the source code describes search strings for identifying patterns of symbols within a group of symbols. To describe the search strings, the source code can include a plurality of regular expressions (regexs). A regex can be a string for describing a symbol search pattern. Regexes are widely used in various computer domains, such as programming languages, text editors, network security, and others. In an example, the regular expressions supported by the compiler include criteria for the analysis of unstructured data. Unstructured data can include data that is free form and has no indexing applied to words within the data. Words can include any combination of bytes, printable and non-printable, within the data. In an example, the compiler can support multiple different source code languages for implementing regexes including Perl, (e.g., Perl compatible regular expressions (PCRE)), PHP, Java, and .NET languages.

At block 112 the compiler 20 can parse the source code to form an arrangement of relationally connected operators, where different types of operators correspond to different functions implemented by the source code (e.g., different functions implemented by regexes in the source code). Parsing source code can create a generic representation of the source code. In an example, the generic representation comprises an encoded representation of the regexs in the source code in the form of a tree graph known as a syntax tree. The examples described herein refer to the arrangement as a syntax tree (also known as an “abstract syntax tree”) in other examples, however, a concrete syntax tree or other arrangement can be used.

Since, as mentioned above, the compiler 20 can support multiple languages of source code, parsing converts the source code, regardless of the language, into a non-language specific representation, e.g., a syntax tree. Thus, further processing (blocks 114, 116, 118, 120) by the compiler 20 can work from a common input structure regardless of the language of the source code.

As noted above, the syntax tree includes a plurality of operators that are relationally connected. A syntax tree can include multiple different types of operators. That is, different operators can correspond to different functions implemented by the regexes in the source code.

At block 114, the syntax tree is converted into an automaton. An automaton comprises a software model of a FSM and can accordingly be classified as deterministic or non-deterministic. A deterministic automaton has a single path of execution at a given time, while a non-deterministic automaton has multiple concurrent paths of execution. The automaton comprises a plurality of states. In order to convert the syntax tree into an automaton, the operators and relationships between the operators in the syntax tree are converted into states with transitions between the states. In an example, the automaton can be converted based partly on the hardware of the FSM lattice 30.

In an example, input symbols for the automaton include the symbols of the alphabet, the numerals 0-9, and other printable characters. In an example, the input symbols are represented by the byte values 0 through 255 inclusive. In an example, an automaton can be represented as a directed graph where the nodes of the graph correspond to the set of states. In an example, a transition from state p to state q on an input symbol α, i.e. δ(p,α), is shown by a directed connection from node p to node q. In an example, a reversal of an automaton produces a new automaton where each transition p→q on some symbol α is reversed q→p on the same symbol. In a reversal, start state becomes a final state and the final states become start states. In an example, the language recognized (e.g., matched) by an automaton is the set of all possible character strings which when input sequentially into the automaton will reach a final state. Each string in the language recognized by the automaton traces a path from the start state to one or more final states.

At block 116, after the automaton is constructed, the automaton is optimized to, among other things, reduce its complexity and size. The automaton can be optimized by combining redundant states.

At block 118, the optimized automaton is converted into a netlist. Converting the automaton into a netlist maps each state of the automaton to a hardware element (e.g., SMEs 34, 36, other elements) on the FSM lattice 30, and determines the connections between the hardware elements.

At block 120, the netlist is placed to select a specific hardware element of the target device (e.g., SMEs 34, 36, special purpose elements 58) corresponding to each node of the netlist. In an example, placing selects each specific hardware element based on general input and output constraints for of the FSM lattice 30.

At block 122, the placed netlist is routed to determine the settings for the programmable switching elements (e.g., inter-block switching elements 40, intra-block switching elements 42, and intra-row switching elements 44) in order to couple the selected hardware elements together to achieve the connections describe by the netlist. In an example, the settings for the programmable switching elements are determined by determining specific conductors of the FSM lattice 30 that will be used to connect the selected hardware elements, and the settings for the programmable switching elements. Routing can take into account more specific limitations of the connections between the hardware elements that placement at block 120. Accordingly, routing may adjust the location of some of the hardware elements as determined by the global placement in order to make appropriate connections given the actual limitations of the conductors on the FSM lattice 30.

Once the netlist is placed and routed, the placed and routed netlist can be converted into a plurality of bits for programming of a FSM lattice 30. The plurality of bits are referred to herein as an image.

At block 124, an image is published by the compiler 20. The image comprises a plurality of bits for programming specific hardware elements of the FSM lattice 30. In embodiments where the image comprises a plurality of bits (e.g., 0 and 1), the image can be referred to as a binary image. The bits can be loaded onto the FSM lattice 30 to program the state of SMEs 34, 36, the special purpose elements 58, and the programmable switching elements such that the programmed FSM lattice 30 implements a FSM having the functionality described by the source code. Placement (block 120) and routing (block 122) can map specific hardware elements at specific locations in the FSM lattice 30 to specific states in the automaton. Accordingly, the bits in the image can program the specific hardware elements to implement the desired function(s). In an example, the image can be published by saving the machine code to a computer readable medium. In another example, the image can be published by displaying the image on a display device. In still another example, the image can be published by sending the image to another device, such as a programming device for loading the image onto the FSM lattice 30. In yet another example, the image can be published by loading the image onto a FSM lattice (e.g., the FSM lattice 30).

In an example, an image can be loaded onto the FSM lattice 30 by either directly loading the bit values from the image to the SMEs 34, 36 and other hardware elements or by loading the image into one or more registers and then writing the bit values from the registers to the SMEs 34, 36 and other hardware elements. In an example, the hardware elements (e.g., SMEs 34, 36, special purpose elements 58, programmable switching elements 40, 42, 44) of the FSM lattice 30 are memory mapped such that a programming device and/or computer can load the image onto the FSM lattice 30 by writing the image to one or more memory addresses.

Method examples described herein can be machine or computer-implemented at least in part. Some examples can include a computer-readable medium or machine-readable medium encoded with instructions operable to configure an electronic device to perform methods as described in the above examples. An implementation of such methods can include code, such as microcode, assembly language code, a higher-level language code, or the like. Such code can include computer readable instructions for performing various methods. The code may form portions of computer program products. Further, the code may be tangibly stored on one or more volatile or non-volatile computer-readable media during execution or at other times. These computer-readable media may include, but are not limited to, hard disks, removable magnetic disks, removable optical disks (e.g., compact disks and digital video disks), magnetic cassettes, memory cards or sticks, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an embodiment of the state machine engine 14 is illustrated. As previously described, the state machine engine 14 is configured to receive data from a source, such as the memory 16 over a data bus. In the illustrated embodiment, data may be sent to the state machine engine 14 through a bus interface, such as a DDR3 bus interface 130. The DDR3 bus interface 130 may be capable of exchanging data at a rate greater than or equal to 1 GByte/sec. As will be appreciated, depending on the source of the data to be analyzed, the bus interface 130 may be any suitable bus interface for exchanging data to and from a data source to the state machine engine 14, such as a NAND Flash interface, PCI interface, etc. As previously described, the state machine engine 14 includes one or more FSM lattices 30 configured to analyze data. Each FSM lattice 30 may be divided into two half-lattices. In the illustrated embodiment, each half lattice may include 24K SMEs (e.g., SMEs 34, 36), such that the lattice 30 includes 48K SMEs. The lattice 30 may comprise any desirable number of SMEs, arranged as previously described with regard to FIGS. 2-5. Further, while only one FSM lattice 30 is illustrated, the state machine engine 14 may include multiple FSM lattices 30, as previously described.

Data to be analyzed may be received at the bus interface 130 and transmitted to the FSM lattice 30 through a number of buffers and buffer interfaces. In the illustrated embodiment, the data path includes data buffers 132, process buffers 134 and an inter-rank (IR) bus and process buffer interface 136. The data buffers 132 are configured to receive and temporarily store data to be analyzed. In one embodiment, there are two data buffers 132 (data buffer A and data buffer B). Data may be stored in one of the two data buffers 132, while data is being emptied from the other data buffer 132, for analysis by the FSM lattice 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the data buffers 132 may be 32 KBytes each. The IR bus and process buffer interface 136 may facilitate the transfer of data to the process buffer 134. The IR bus and process buffer 136 ensures that data is processed by the FSM lattice 30 in order. The IR bus and process buffer 136 may coordinate the exchange of data, timing information, packing instructions, etc. such that data is received and analyzed in the correct order. Generally, the IR bus and process buffer 136 allows the analyzing of multiple data sets in parallel through logical ranks of FSM lattices 30.

In the illustrated embodiment, the state machine engine 14 also includes a de-compressor 138 and a compressor 140 to aid in the transfer of the large amounts of data through the state machine engine 14. The compressor 140 and de-compressor 138 work in conjunction such that data can be compressed to minimize the data transfer times. By compressing the data to be analyzed, the bus utilization time may be minimized. Based on information provided by the compiler 20, a mask may be provided to the state machine engine 14 to provide information on which state machines are likely to be unused. The compressor 140 and de-compressor 138 can also be configured to handle data of varying burst lengths. By padding compressed data and including an indicator as to when each compressed region ends, the compressor 140 may improve the overall processing speed through the state machine engine 14. The compressor 140 and de-compressor 138 may also be used to compress and decompress match results data after analysis by the FSM lattice 30.

As previously described, the output of the FSM lattice 30 can comprise a state vector. The state vector comprises the state (e.g., activated or not activated) of programmable elements of the FSM lattice 30. Each state vector may be temporarily stored in the state vector cache memory 142 for further hierarchical processing and analysis. That is, the state of each state machine may be stored, such that the final state may be used in further analysis, while freeing the state machines for reprogramming and/or further analysis of a new data set. Like a typical cache, the state vector cache memory allows storage of information, here state vectors, for quick retrieval and use, here by the FSM lattice 30, for instance. Additional buffers, such as the state vector memory buffer, state vector intermediate input buffer 146 and state vector intermediate output buffer 148, may be utilized in conjunction with the state vector cache memory 142 to accommodate rapid analysis and storage of state vectors, while adhering to packet transmission protocol through the state machine engine 14.

Once a result of interest is produced by the FSM lattice 30, match results may be stored in a match results memory 150. That is, a “match vector” indicating a match (e.g., detection of a pattern of interest) may be stored in the match results memory 150. The match result can then be sent to a match buffer 152 for transmission over the bus interface 130 to the processor 12, for example. As previously described, the match results may be compressed.

Additional registers and buffers may be provided in the state machine engine 14, as well. For instance, the state machine engine 14 may include control and status registers 154. In addition, restore and program buffers 156 may be provided for using in programming the FSM lattice 30 initially, or restoring the state of the machines in the FSM lattice 30 during analysis. Similarly, save and repair map buffers 158 may also be provided for storage of save and repair maps for setup and usage.

FIG. 10 illustrates a second example of a row 38 similar to that discussed above with respect to FIG. 4. The row 38 may include programmable intra-row switching elements 44 and row interconnection/interconnect conductors 68, 70 (which can also be referred to as “row routing lines”, as described below).

Row 38 of FIG. 10 may include eight GOTS 60, a special purpose element 58, inputs 62, inputs 64, outputs 66, a match element 160, a plurality of row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, and 192 (collectively referred to hereafter as “row routing lines 162-192”), a special purpose element routing line 194, and a plurality of junction points 196.

Furthermore, in addition to being coupled to the illustrated SMEs 34, 36 in FIG. 11, the local routing matrix 172 may be coupled to all pairs of SMEs 34, 36 for the GOTs 60 in a particular row 38. Accordingly, the local routing matrix 172 may include programmable intra-row switching elements 44 and row interconnection/interconnect conductors 68, 70 (which can also be referred to as “row routing lines”, as described below).

The GOTS 60 and the special purpose element 58 illustrated in FIG. 10 are substantially similar to the GOTS 60 and the special purpose element 58 previously discussed with respect to FIG. 4. Accordingly, each GOT 60 receives an input 62, which may be a unified enable input, to operate as an enable signal for a detection cell 86 of a SME 34. Likewise, each GOT 60 also receives an input 64, which may also be a unified enable input, to operate as an enable signal for a detection cell 86 of a SME 36. These unified enable inputs 62, 64 may activate the detection cells 86 of the SMEs 34, 36 to output a respective result of an analysis performed by the respective SME, for example, a match in an analyzed data stream from a single SME 34, which may be utilized in conjunction with results from other SMEs 34, 36 to, for example, search for a pattern in a data stream. For example, unified enable input 62 and unified enable input 64 allow for selective activation of the SMEs 34, 36 so that results generated by each of the active SMEs 34, 36 may be utilized as part of an overall broader analysis of a data stream.

The result generated by an SME 34, 36 of a GOT 60 may be selectively provided from the GOT on output 66. In one embodiment, the possible outputs of the GOT 60 may include no output, an output of the first SME 34, i.e., output 72, an output of the second SME 36, i.e., output 74, or the output of the first SME 34 or the output of the second SME 36, i.e., output 72 or output 74. Thus, a GOT 60 may be programmed to output a selected result from a GOT 60. This programming may be accomplished, for example, based on a loaded image performed during an initial programming stage of the FSM lattice 30. Results from the GOTs 60 may be provided to a match element 160, which may operate to output a selected result generated from the row 38 for a given data stream search or a portion of a data stream search.

Additionally, row 38 may include row routing lines 162-192 (which may also be referred to as row interconnection/interconnect conductors). In the present embodiment, there are sixteen row lines 162-192 that are selectively coupleable to eight GOTS 60 and to the special purpose element 58. However, it should be appreciated that fewer or more row routing lines may be utilized in conjunction with the row 38.

Each of the row routing lines 162-192 may be utilized to provide enable signals for any of the SMEs 34, 36 of one or more GOTS 60 along inputs 62, 64. Accordingly, through use of these row routing lines 162-192, any particular detection cell 86 for any particular SME (e.g., SME 34) may be activated. This may be accomplished by selectively coupling (e.g., in accordance with a loaded image) the row routing lines 162-192 to unified enable inputs 62, 64 of the SMEs 34, 36. Moreover, to provide further flexibility in providing enable signals to the SMEs 34, 36, the row routing lines 162-192 may be divided up amongst two SMEs 34, 36 of a given GOT 60. For example, row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176, may be utilized to activate any of the SMEs 34, 36 in the row 38. For example, a GOT 60 may transmit an output 66 to the row routing line coupled thereto, for example, row routing line 162. This signal may be transmitted into the intra-block switch, where it may be routed, for example, on row routing line 164 to an additional GOT 60 in the row 38. Additionally, row routing lines 178, 182, 186, and 190 may activate SMEs 34 in row 38, for example, by receiving signals from intra-block switch 42, while row routing lines 180, 184, 188, and 192 may activate SMEs 36 in row 38 via, for example, signals received from the intra-block witch 42. In this manner, the overall number of row routing lines 162-192 may be reduced, while still allowing for overall flexibility and the ability to activate any detection cell 86 of any of the SMEs 34, 36 in a row 38.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, each of the row routing lines 162-192 includes a plurality of junction points 196. These junction points 196 may, for example, include the intra-row switching elements 44 of FIG. 3, since the junction points 196 may be utilized to selectively couple any GOT 60 to any other GOT 60, or any GOT 60 to any other element (e.g., a special purpose element 58) within the row 38 (or, for that matter, within another row and/or another block). However, these connections may be limited by available junction points 196. For example, each of row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176, may be utilized to activate any of the SMEs 34, 36 in the row 38. However, each of row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176 also are selectively coupleable to the output of a respective different one of the GOTs 60. For example, an output from any one of the GOTs 60 may only be provided from that GOT 60 on a respective one of the row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176 coupleable thereto. Thus, in one embodiment, because row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176 are coupleable to the outputs 66 of the GOTs 60, the row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176 may provide (e.g., drive-out) signals to the intra-block switch 42. In contrast, in one embodiment, row routing lines 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, and 192 may receive (e.g. be driven by) signals from the intra-block switch 42 that may be received from, for example, other rows 38 or blocks 32.

In addition to row routing lines 162-192, the row 38 may include a special purpose element routing line 194 coupled to a special purpose element 58. Similar to row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176, the special purpose routing line 194 may provide (e.g., drive-out) signals to the intra-block switch 42. In one embodiment, the special purpose element routing line 194 may also be coupleable to the match element 160. For example, if the special purpose element 58 comprises a counter, an output of the counter may be provided along the special purpose routing line 194. Similarly, if the special purpose element 58 includes a Boolean logic element, such as a Boolean cell, an output of the Boolean logic element may be provided along the special purpose routing line 194. Through the use of these special purpose elements, repetitive searches (e.g., find an element ten times) or cascaded searches (e.g., find elements x, y, and z) may be simplified into a single output that can be provided along the special purpose routing line 194 to either or both of the intra-block switch 42 and the match element 160.

A more detailed illustration of the intra-block switch 42 and its operation is presented in FIG. 11. As illustrated, the intra-block switch 42 may receive the row routing lines 162-192 as well as the special purpose element routing line 194, and these lines may intersect various block routing lines 198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220, 222, 224, 226, and 228 (collectively referred to hereafter as “block routing lines 198-228”) at a plurality of junction points 230. These junction points 230 may, for example, may be utilized to selectively couple row routing lines 162-192 to block routing lines 198-228. In one embodiment, each of row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176 may provide (e.g., drive-out, send, transmit, transfer, pass, etc.) signals to the intra-block switch 42, while row routing lines 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, and 192 may receive (e.g., drive-in) signals from the intra-block switch 42. Accordingly, row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176 may be utilized to provide signals from the row 38 coupled to the intra-block switch 42 in FIG. 10 to adjacent rows 38, such as those illustrated in FIG. 3. Additionally or alternatively, row routing lines 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, and 176 may be utilized to provide signals from the row 38 coupled to the intra-block switch 42 in FIG. 10 to other rows 38 in the block 32 and/or to the block routing buffer 48. This may be accomplished by providing the signals generated in a given row 38 to one of the block routing lines 198-228 coupled thereto, since the block routing lines 198-228 are coupled to the various intra-block switches 42 and the block routing buffer 48 of FIG. 3. This may allow row 38 to provide any results generated therein to adjacent rows 38 or even other blocks 32.

Conversely, in one embodiment, each of the row routing lines 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, and 192 may receive (e.g., drive-in) signals from the intra-block switch 42. Accordingly, row routing lines 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, and 192 may be utilized to provide signals to the row 38 coupled to the intra-block switch 42 in FIG. 10 from adjacent rows 38, such as those illustrated in FIG. 3. Additionally or alternatively, row routing lines 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, and 192 may be utilized to provide signals from the row 38 coupled to the intra-block switch 42 in FIG. 10 from the block routing buffer 48. This may be accomplished by receiving signals generated in external blocks 32 or in adjacent rows 38 from one of the block routing lines 198-228 of FIG. 11, since the block routing lines 198-228 are coupled to the various intra-block switches 42 and the block routing buffer 48 of FIG. 3. This may allow row 38 to receive any results generated in adjacent rows 38 or even other blocks 32 along row routing lines 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, and 192. In this manner, the intra-block switch 42 may couple row 38 with adjacent rows 38 and other blocks 32.

As discussed above, results from any particular row 38 may be passed from one block 32 to another block 32. The block routing buffer 48 may facilitate this transfer of information between blocks. FIG. 12 illustrates one embodiment of the block routing buffer 48.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, block routing buffer 48 may include block routing ports 232, 234 as well as junction routing ports 236, 238. As illustrated, block routing port 232 may be coupled to a bi-directional path 240 so that signals may be provided to and received from a block 32 at block routing port 232. Additionally, block routing port 234 may be coupled to an output path 242, such that block routing port 234 may provide signals to a block 32. Thus, the block routing buffer 48 may provide one or two signals to a given block at a time (i.e., simultaneously) by utilizing either one or both of the block routing ports 232, 234.

Junction routing ports 236, 238 of block routing buffer 48 may also allow for one or two signals to be provided at the same time (i.e., simultaneously). As illustrated, junction routing port 236 may be coupled to a bi-directional path 244 so that signals may be provided to and received from conductors 46 (e.g., wires, traces, etc.) in an inter-block switching element 40. Additionally, junction routing port 238 may be coupled to an output path 246, such that junction routing port 238 may provide signals to conductors 46 of an inter-block switching element 40. Thus, the block routing buffer 48 may provide one or two signals to a given set of conductors 46 at a time (i.e., simultaneously) by utilizing either one or both of the junction routing ports 236, 238. As may be appreciated, the signals provided to conductors 46 of an inter-block switching element 40 may be coupled to another block routing buffer 48 so that signals may be provided from a first block 32, through a first block routing buffer 48, across the conductors 46, to an adjacent block routing buffer 48, and to an adjacent block 32, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

To accomplish this routing, the block routing buffer 48 may include a bi-directional drive element 248 and two uni-directional drive elements 250, 252. As illustrated, the bi-directional drive element 248 may provide and receive signals along the bi-directional paths 240 and 244, while the uni-directional drive elements 250, 252 provide signals along output paths 242, 246, respectively.

Moreover, at any given time, the block routing buffer 48 may be functioning to receive signals, or provide one or more signals. Accordingly, block routing buffer 48 includes control inputs 254, 256, 258, and 260. Control inputs 254, 256, 258, and 260 may allow for the block routing buffer 48 to be programmably set to provide one or more signals or receive signals. For example, control input 254 may receive and provide a control signal to the bi-directional drive element 248 to activate the bi-directional drive element 248 to receive a signal from junction routing port 236 and provide the received signal from block routing port 232 to a block 32. Similarly, control input 256 may receive and provide a control signal to the bi-directional drive element 248 to activate the bi-directional drive element 248 to receive a signal from block routing port 232 and provide the signal to an inter-block switching element 40 via junction routing port 236.

Additionally, control input 258 may receive and provide a control signal to the uni-directional drive element 250 to activate the uni-directional drive element 250 to receive a signal from junction routing port 236 and provide the received signal from block routing port 234 to a block 32. Similarly, control input 260 may receive and provide a control signal to the uni-directional drive element 252 to activate the uni-directional drive element 252 to receive a signal from block routing port 234 and provide the signal to an inter-block switching element 40 via junction routing port 238. Accordingly, the control inputs 254, 256, 258, and 260 may allow the block routing buffer 48 to simultaneously provide signals to a block 32 or to inter-block switching element 40, thus at least doubling the overall speed of providing signals through the block routing buffer 48.

Signals provided to the conductors 46 of the inter-block switching element 40 by a block routing buffer 48 may not always be immediately provided to, for example, another block routing buffer 48. As illustrated in FIG. 2, some signals may pass through an isolation buffer 50 prior to, for example, being provided to another block routing buffer 48 in an adjacent inter-block switching element 40. FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of an isolation buffer 50 that may be utilized to provide signals from one inter-block switching element 40 to another inter-block switching element 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the isolation buffer 50 includes a junction routing port 262 as well as an isolation routing port 264. As illustrated, junction routing port 262 may be coupled to a bi-directional path 266 so that signals may be provided to and received from conductors 46 of the inter-block switching element 40 at junction routing port 262. Additionally, isolation routing port 264 may be coupled to a bi-directional path 268 so that signals may be provided to and received from another isolation buffer 50 prior to being provided to conductors 46 of an adjacent inter-block switching element 40. As may be appreciated, the signals may be provided from conductors 46 of an inter-block switching element 40 to isolation buffer 50, to another isolation buffer 50 via isolation routing port 264, and to conductors 46 of an adjacent inter-block switching element, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

To accomplish this routing, isolation buffer 50 may include two uni-directional drive elements 270, 272. As illustrated, the uni-directional drive elements 270, 272 provide signals along output paths 266, 268, respectively. Moreover, at any given time, the isolation buffer 50 may be functioning to receive signals or provide signals. Accordingly, isolation buffer 50 includes control inputs 274, 276. Control inputs 274, 276, may allow for the isolation buffer 50 to be programmably set to provide signals or receive signals. For example, control input 274 may receive and provide a control signal to the uni-directional drive element 270 to activate the uni-directional drive element 270 to receive a signal from junction routing port 262 and provide the received signal from isolation routing port 264 to an adjacent isolation buffer 50. Similarly, control input 276 may receive and provide a control signal to the uni-directional drive element 272 to activate the uni-directional drive element 272 to receive a signal from an adjacent isolation buffer 50 and provide the signal to an inter-block switching element 40 via junction routing port 262. Additionally, in at least one embodiment, the isolation buffer 50 may operate as an amplifier to amplify the signals provided from isolation routing port 264 to an adjacent isolation buffer 50 so as to prevent, for example, signal degradation as signals are provided between adjacent isolation buffers 50.

While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: an isolation buffer comprising: a first port configured to receive a signal relating to an analysis of at least a portion of a data stream; a second port configured to selectively provide the signal to a second isolation buffer, wherein the isolation buffer is configured to amplify the signal prior to providing the signal to the second isolation buffer.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the isolation buffer comprises a uni-directional drive element coupled between the first port and the second port.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the isolation buffer comprises a first control input configured to activate the uni-directional drive element to provide the signal from the first port to the second port.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second port is configured to receive a second signal relating to an analysis of at least a portion of a data stream.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first port is configured to selectively provide the second signal to a switching element.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the routing buffer comprises a second uni-directional drive element coupled between the second port and the first port.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the routing buffer comprises a second control input configured to activate the second uni-directional drive element to provide the second signal from the second port to the first port.
 8. A device, comprising: a state machine comprising: a plurality of blocks, each of the blocks comprising: a plurality of rows, each of the rows comprising a plurality of programmable elements, each of the programmable elements configured to analyze at least a portion of a data stream and to selectively output the result of the analysis; and an inter-block switch configured to selectively route the result; and an isolation buffer coupled to the inter-block switch and configured to: receive the result from the inter-block switch at a first port; amplify the result; and selectively provide the result from a second port to a second isolation buffer subsequent to the amplification.
 9. The device of claim 8, comprising a routing buffer coupled to one of the blocks and configured to: receive the result at a first port of the routing buffer; and selectively provide the result from a second port of the routing buffer and a third port of the routing buffer to the inter-block switch.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the second port of the isolation buffer is configured to receive a second result relating to an analysis of at least a portion of a data stream.
 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first port of the isolation buffer is configured to selectively provide the second result to the inter-block switch.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the isolation buffer comprises a uni-directional drive element coupled between the second port of the isolation buffer and the first port of the isolation buffer.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the isolation buffer comprises a control input configured to activate the uni-directional drive element to provide the signal from the from the second port of the isolation buffer to the first port of the isolation buffer.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the inter-block switch is configured to provide the second result to the routing buffer.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the routing buffer comprises a fourth port of the routing buffer, wherein the routing buffer is configured to: receive the second result at the second port of the routing buffer; and selectively provide the result from the first port of the routing buffer and the fourth port of the routing buffer to an intra-block switch.
 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the routing buffer comprises bi-directional drive element coupled between the first port of the routing buffer and the second port of the routing buffer.
 17. A device, comprising: an isolation buffer comprising: a first port of the isolation buffer configured to receive a signal relating to an analysis of at least a portion of a data stream; and a second port of the isolation buffer configured to selectively provide the signal; and a routing buffer comprising: a first port of the routing buffer configured to receive the signal relating to an analysis of at least a portion of a data stream; a second port of the routing buffer configured to selectively provide the signal to a first routing line of a block of a state machine at a first time; and a third port of the routing buffer configured to selectively provide the signal to a second routing line of the block of the state machine at the first time.
 18. The device of claim 17, comprising an inter-block switch configured to route the signal from the second port of the isolation buffer to the first port of the routing buffer.
 19. The device of claim 17, wherein the wherein the isolation buffer comprises a uni-directional drive element coupled between the first port of the isolation buffer and the second port of the isolation buffer.
 20. The device of claim 19, wherein the isolation buffer comprises a control input configured to activate the uni-directional drive element to provide the signal from the first port of the isolation buffer to the second port of the isolation buffer.
 21. The device of claim 17, wherein the routing buffer comprises a bi-directional drive element coupled between the first port of the routing buffer and the second port of the routing buffer.
 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the routing buffer comprises a control input configured to activate the bi-directional drive element to provide the signal from first port of the routing buffer to the second port of the routing buffer.
 23. The device of claim 17, wherein the routing buffer comprises a uni-directional drive element coupled between the first port of the routing buffer and the third port of the routing buffer.
 24. The device of claim 23, wherein the routing buffer comprises a control input configured to activate the uni-directional drive element to provide the signal from first port of the routing buffer to the third port of the routing buffer. 